Apparatus for delivering mail.



No. 794,909. PATENTED JULY 18, 1905.

G. WOLF. APPARATUS FR DELIVERING MAIL.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.23. 1904.

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PATENTED JULY '.18J 1905.

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APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING MAIL.

APPLICATION FILED DBO.Z3, 1904.

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'i NTTEn STATES Patented July is, 1905'.

GUSTAV lYOLF, OF NEVT YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO GOLLA OONDORY, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING MAIL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 794,909, dated July 18, 1905. Application filed December 23, 1904. Serial No. 238,072.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Beit known that l, GrUsTAv WOLF, a subject of the Emperor ot' Germany, and a resident of the borough of Bronx, New Yorkv city, in the county of /Vestchcster and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Delivering Mail, of which the followingis aspeciiication.

My invention relates to apparatus for delivering mail to the upper floors of a building after the postman has distributed the same in proper receptacles on the ground-floor.

The object of my invention is to provide means for raising and lowering the carrier bearing the mail-matter. It also has for its object the provision of automatic means under the control of the postman whereby he can set the apparatus in motion for ascent to the upper ioors of a building, from which the mail-carrier will be returned automatically to -its initial position ready for the next distribution of mail.

In a general way my apparatus relates to a system resembling more or less that shown and claimed in United States Letters Patent No. 718,698, issued to Golla Condory, January 20, 1903. It also is adapted for use in connection with the apparatus described and claimed in my application, Serial No. 238,073, iiled December 23, 1904.

An understanding of my invention will be had by reference to the following description and to the accompanying drawings. l

Figure 1 of the drawings is a front view of that part of the apparatus in the rear of the line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan ot' that part oi' the apparatus below the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, the electrical connections, circuits, and operating parts being indicated diagrammatically. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view `on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 looking from right to left. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail side View, .partly in section, of the spring-plunger interposed between the door and the operatingswitch. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail View,

partly in section, of the device for assisting in throwing the reversing-switch, the parts being shown in central position. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail View, partly in section, of the same, the switch being shown in position of contact.

Referring to the drawings, in which the same parts are designated by the same characters, 1 is the vertical tube or path through which mail is to be delivered from the lower to an upper floor, only that portion at the lower oor being here shown.

Q represents the guides for the carrier 3, which carries the boxes 4, which are best described in my application, Serial No. 938,07 3, tiled December E23, 1904, inasmuch as they are not a parto]c the invention covered by the present application.

5 is a wire rope or cable for actuating the carrier 3, only that part of the cable below the carrier being here shown; but it will be understood, however, that said cable 5 extends from beneath the carrier, around an actuating-drum, (not shown,) and thence, guided by pulleys, it extends through the top of the tube and is connected to the top of said carrier 3.

6 is a counterweight from which, guided by pulleys, another cable (not shown) extends, connected to the top of the carrier 3, so that when the carrier is lowered the counterweight 6 rises, and vice versa.l

4 represents the individual boxes normally resting upon and carried by the carrier 3.

In Fig. 3 one of said boxes is shown provided with operating devices 8 for ejecting and withdrawingit at an upper floor; but such devices are not a part of the invention covered by the present application.

9 is a hinged door in the Jfront 'f the bottom of the tube 1 opposite the lower and normal position of the carrier 3 when it is ready for the reception of mail from the hands of the postman. Immediately behind the door 9 upon the bracket 10 is tixed the plunger y11, adapted to be moved forward and back through the casing 12, which contains the spring 13, adapted to withdraw the plunger' 11 when the door 9 is open, as best indicated in Fig. 3. The plunger 11 carries at its inner end the spring-pressed hook or nose 14, adapted to contact with the rod 15, carried by the catch 16, which is normally held in vertical position by the spring 17, Fig. 3. Upon the base 18 is pivoted at 19 the main switch 20, covered by insulating material at end 21, while the opposite end 22 is adapted to be engaged with the contact-point 23 by the pull of spring 24whenv the main switch 20 is free from the catch 16. The base 18 also carries the double-pole double-throw reversing-switch 25,with two blades pivoted at the two points 26, said reversingswitch being strengthened at the outer end by the insulating-brace 27, carrying the spring extension 28. One blade, Fig. 2,'of said reversing-switch 25 is adapted to engage with the contact-point 29 or 30, while the other blade thereof engages with either contactpoint 31 or 32. The contact-points on the ends of the reversing-switch are cross-connected. The contact-point 30 is electrically connected to the contact-point 31, and the contact 29 is electrically connected to contact 32, as indicated in Fig. 2. The pivots 26 for reversing-switch 25 are provided with auxiliary shifting devices (best shown in Figs. 5 and 6) where the spring-pressed plunger 33 coacts with thenose 34 to shift the switch as soon as it crosses the central position, (indicated in Fig. 5,) so as to hasten it into position of contact. (Indicated in Fig. 6.) Beneath the carrier 3 is fixed the rubber plate 35, adapted in the downward movement of the carrier to contact with and shift the reversing-switch 25.

In the diagrammatically-indicatcd electrical circuits, connections, &c., of Fig. 2, 36 is the connection with the electric current from which the motor is operated. 37 is the armature, and 38 is the usual shunt-field. At 39 resistance is indicated. The broken lines ci indicate the wiring and the path of the electric current. The current starts from the source 36 and passes through the main switch 20. It here divides, and part passes through the shunt-field 38 of the motor and part .passes by way of the reversing-switch through the armature 37. The two parts then unite, as indicated, and pass through a resistance 39 back to the source, thus completing the necessary electrical circuits through the armature and field of the motor for its operation. That part of the divided current that takes the path through the reversing switch will pass through the armature in one direction when the reversing-switch is down on one side and in the opposite direction when the reversingswitch is down on the other side. The current passes through the iield in one direction. Thus the position of the reversing-switch determines the direction o't' the current in the armature, and so determines the direction of rotation of the motor.

In Fig. 1 for convenience both carrier 3 and counterweight 6 are shown; but it will be understood that when one is up the other is down, the counterweight 6 shifting the reversingswitch 25 when carrier 3 reaches its uppermost position in tube 1.

The operation of my device is as follows: The postman upon opening door '9, to which he has an ofcial key, has access to the tube 1 and the carrier 3, containing the boxes 4 for the reception of Inail-matter designed to be delivered to upper jfloors of the building. The opening of door 9 releases plunger 11, Figs. 3 and 4, which is withdrawn outward from engagement with the rod 15 upon catch 16. The pivoted nose 14 is turned downward upon the withdrawal of plunger 11, so as to be free from and in front of rod 15. When the postman after distributing the mail in the several boxes 4 closes door 9, plunger 11 is thereby pushed inward, the nose .14 contacting with rod 15, so as to push catch 16 out ot' engag'ement with the insulated endA 21 of mainswitch 20, which being thus released is snapped by spring 24 into engagement .at the contactpoint 23, so as to close circuit a and start motor 37, which actuates the main drum, (not shown,) around which winds rope 5 to raise carrier 3 for the distribution of its contents to the upper ioors. As the carrier rises it leaves the pole-reversing switch 25 in the position indicated in Fig. 1. When, however, the carrier is about to reach the top of its path, the counterweight 6 is correspondingly lowered, so as to contact with the spring extension 28, so as to shift the pole-reversing switch 25 with the cooperation of the device indicated in Figs. 5 and 6. As soon as polereversing switch 25 is shifted the direction of the current through the armatureof motor 37 is changed and said motor reversed to lower the'carrier 3. This movement will raise the counterweight 6 from contact with pole-reversing switch 25. As the carrier 3 approaches its initial position the rubber plate 35 contacts with and shifts pole-reversing switch 25, while at the same time catch 16 contacts with and opens main switch 20. This opens the circuit and leaves the switches and carrier both in their initial position, Fig. 3, ready for the repetition of movements upon the next visit of the postman to the building.

I employ for the electrical power indicated any ordinary pu blic current and suitable small Imotor of ordinary construction. I employ the resistance indicated at 39 to prevent any rush of current at the starting of the motor in either direction.

By employing my invention tenants of buildings occupied for business or residential purposes may feel confident that their mail will be distributed automatically without handling' by any person after it is deposited by the postman as above described. The mere closing of the door 9 by the postman actuates the device, so that it is thereafter automatically operated to raise the carrier and automatically reversed to lower the carrier to its initial position.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

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1. In apparatus for delivering mail, a door l adapted to give access to a receptacle for mailmatter and means whereby the closing of said door will automatically put into operation devices for carrying the mail to an upper lioor;

2. In apparatus for delivering mail, a door adapted to give access to a receptacle for mailmatter and means put in operation by the closing of said door whereby said receptacle is carried to an upper floor for the delivery of the mail and thereafter lowered to its initial position.

3. In apparatus for delivering mail, a door adapted to give access to a receptacle for mailmatter, mechanism for raising said receptacle to an upper floor. mechanism for loweringthe same to its initial position and means automatically operated by the closing of said door for starting the raising mechanism.

4. In apparatus for delivering mail, a mailreceptacle, mechanism for raising the same, mechanism for lowering the same, a door, and means operated by the movement of the door for putting into operation successively said raising and lowering mechanisms.

5. In apparatus for delivering mail, a recepf tacle for mail-matter, means for raising the same from a lower to an upper floor, and means whereby said receptacle is automatically lowered from the upper floor to its initial position at the lower floor.

6. In apparatus for delivering mail, a tube, a carrier therein, means under the Ycontrol of the postman for raising the carrier from the bottom to the top of the tube and means whereby the carrier is automatically returned to the bottom of the tube.

7. In apparatus for delivering mail, a carrier adapted to be moved in a path past the upper floors of the building, a motor adapted to raise and lower the carrier, means under the control of the postman for starting the motor and automatic means for reversing the motor to lower the carrier.

8. In apparatus for delivering mail,a motor, a switch for starting the motor to raise the carrier,and an automatically-controlled switch for reversing the motor to lower the carrier.

9. In apparatus for delivering mail, a carrier, a motor, a switch for starting the motor to raise the carrier, an automatically -controlled switch for reversing the motor to lower the carrier, and means for automatically shutting olf the current when the carrier reaches its initial position.

10. In apparatus for delivering mail, a carrier, a motor, a switch for closing a circuit to operate the motor in a direction to raise the carrier, an automatically -shifted switch to reverse the current and motor when the carrier reaches the top of its path, and automatic means for breaking the circuit and stopping the motor when the carrier reaches the bottom of its path.

11. In apparatus for` delivering mail, a carrier,amotor for raising and lowering the same, a switch for starting the motor to raise the carrier, another switch for automatically reversing the motor to lower the carrier and means for automatically shifting said switches to their initial position when the carrier reaches the bottom of its path.

12. In apparatus for delivering mail, a carrier, amotor for raising and lowering the same, a door, a switch adapted to be shifted by the closing of said door to start the motor to raise the carrier, another switch adapted to be shifted automatically when the carrier reaches the top of its path to reverse the motor, and means for automatically shifting said switches when the carrier reaches the bottom of its path so that one switch cuts olf the current while the other switch makes connections ready to start the carrier upward upon the neXt delivery of mail.

13. In apparatus for delivering mail, a carrier, a motor, a switch adapted to close and open a circuit for starting and stopping the motor, asecond switch operated automatically to reverse the current to reverse the motor.

14. In apparatus for delivering mail, a carrier, a motor, a counterweight, a switch under the control of the postman for starting the motor to raise the carrier, automatic means for reversing the motor when the carrier reaches the top of its path, and automatic means for I stopping the motor when the carrier reaches its initial position.

15. In apparatus for delivering mail, a carrier,a motor, a counterweight. means for starting the motor to raise the carrier, automatic means operated by the counterweight for reversing the motor, and automatic means operated by the carrier for stopping the motor.

16. In apparatus for delivering mail` a carrier, means to raise and lower the carrier1 a door andmeans whereby the closing of the door starts the movement of the carrier while the opening of the door does not affect the position of the carrier.

17. In apparatus for delivering mail, a carrier, means to raise and lower the same, a door, and intermediate mechanism between the door and the devices for moving the carrier whereby the closing of the door puts such ydevices into operation, whereas the opening of the door is ineffective so to do.

18. In apparatus for delivering mail, a carrier, devices foi` raising the carrier, a springactuated switch adapted to put said devices into operation, and means under the control of the postman for releasing said switch.

19. In apparatus for delivering mail, a carrier, means for raising the same, means for lowering the same, and a switch adapted to be shifted automatically when the carrier reaches the top of its path to put into operation the means for lowering.

20. In apparatus for delivering mail, a carrier, a motor for moving said carrier up and IOO IIO

down, a main switch Jfor closing and opening the circuit of said motor, and a pole-reversing switch for reversing said motor.

21. In apparatus for delivering mail, a carrier, a motor for moving said carrier up and down, a main switch for closing and opening the circuit of said motor, devices under the control o1 the postman for shifting said switch to close the circuit, and means whereby the circuit is opened automatically when the carrier has reached its initial position.

22. In apparatus for delivering mail, a carrier, a motor for moving said carrier up and down, a pole-reversing switch for reversing the motor, and means whereby the said pole- 15 reversing switch is automatically shifted when the carrier has reached the top of its path.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 21st day of December, A.'D. 1904.

GUSTAV WOLF. Witnesses:

M. KAUFFMAN, FRANK E. ANDERSON. 

